The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-19


the State and supply its instant and
wonder d ut that they were extended
extraordinary encourag ment and
facilities, nor is it strange that these
privileges should have been accom-
panied with enormous land grants
under State provisions. And while
we proclaim our unqualified approba-
ton of every policy recognizing the r
Importance as thoroughiares of travel,
as carriers and distributors Of
products. md as m nval liable and
Indispensable Itl..iils uf ucvc oping aud
serving the country, it can hardly be
questioned that these artificial DO lies
were created by the people as crea-
lures of their power-the instruments
of their convenience-and designed
for their service and not their suDjec-
ton. And it was clearly the will of
the trainers of our organic laws to
throw them open to the laws of COM
petition in every particular, m'king
them evoke their own checks an
regulators as the true theory for their
management. But these constitutional
inhibitions and statutory requirements
are nullified by the simple will of cor
porations of our own creation, and
possessing no powers except such as
are conferred upon them by law.
1t is the theory of our government that
the constitution shall be obeyed-that the
laws made in pursuance thereof shall be
executed, and until they are repealed no
party has the right to nulify them or deny
their enforcement. II these laws, from
inherent defect or absence of power in
the State, cannot be executed, they should
be eliminated from our statute books. If
they are wise and just they 81 o I'D
result in securing the timely and efficient
eXcrtion of such control as the State may
have the right to claim over these corpo-
rations, and no power on earth shoulc
be suffered to clog or impede its asser-
ton. II they ere to be operated in such
manner that the products raised cut of
the soil and the commodities created by
the industry of the people are taken from
the producer, and inure alone to those
who receive their earnings, they become
ofysmall practical value to the people at
large. We should be unwilling to per-
init them, by an arrogation of authority
superior to that exercised by the State,
to abolish the wholesome laws of supply
and demand and advance or depress at
will the price of every commodity, and
il would therefore be ruinous in its re-
suits to the to ests of the whole people.
We are endeav oring to induce capitalists
to supply us with additional mills and
factories, but prudent business men will
not build them with so liberal hand,
knowing that this unbridled power can
shut their doors and render them profit
less at its pleasure, The effects of such
methods upon the lumber, cattle and
cotton interests would be onlya little less
injurious. In regard to the latter, while
corporate and manufacture NJ compa
MES are made rich by it, the producers
waste their lives and fortunes in raising
this article at cost greater than its
selling price, and yet il is an element of
the largest manufacturing interest in the
world, the most valuable article of com
merce-a currency within itself-and the
greatest boon to human industry. These
are all sources of wealth to our people
INVOLVING IMMENSE CAPITAL
and supplying employment TO an inn
mense volume of labor, and should re-
ceive the fostering care of the govern
ment, and not be dominated by any sing
gle interest, how ever important, within
the legitimate sphere Of its operation and
usefulness. Shall IL be said that Texas
has invited power that can, at its will,
deprive the citizen of the reward of his
honest industry in his own State and at
his own homestead and the States arm,
which he has tOiled to nerve, cannot be
extended to afford him redressY II so,
il wilhbe q confession that the wisdom
and courage which achieved political in
dependence has degcneraied into that
stupidity and unmanliness which forfets
material independence also. II would
seem that these
CORPORATIONS OUGHT NOT
TO be unmindful of the solicitude so re-
Gently manifested for their rights, privi-
leges and immunities, and should not
wait TO he admonished to do full justice
to the people of Texas by spontaneous
act as broad and genera! as the circum-
stances warrant Just and beneticent
And il behooves them TO cultivate
proper respect for the law in the people
by an exhibition of proper respect for
the law in themselves. II they do not
propose TO abide by the laws of our State,
with what grace can they claim protec-
ton against those who may assail their
Just rights? For the first time in
the history Of our State we have seen the
laboring classes enlisting under the bead
hammer ofinnovation, determined to meet
COMBINATION WITH COMBINATION
IN fierce and desperate struggle against
the memorable demands of a system
deemed by them subversive of the phil
osophy of the mutual rights in business
and as We cannot afford to see our State
made the battle ground of disorder and